Expert expects large number of ticks this year

Ticks are back for another season as we deal with warmer than normal temperatures.

“If it’s like last year’s weather we will certainly see a large number of ticks,” said tick expert at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Neil Chilton. “It’s going to depend on how many survived over winter.”

Chilton urges people to not be too nervous about Lyme disease because the tick that carries it is very rare.

“I get 3,000 ticks a year and see eight of the ticks who can potentially have Lyme and only 10 per cent of those carry the bacteria,” he said. “The risk is extremely low for people in the province, but it doesn’t mean it’s zero.”

Chilton said to avoid ticks, don’t walk in tall grass and wear high boots.

“They’ll crawl on your clothes, but you’ll be able to spot them,” he said.

Chilton said he received the first reports of tick sightings last week.